Friday, January 15, 2010

Worship for Today: Jesus Christ is my advocate.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Proverbs 15:3,
 
"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good."
 
Here is a very sobering proverb. It speaks to the watchful omnipresence of the Lord, his seeing of all we think, do and say. This is an ever present reality that exists, whether we sense it or not. Paul describes God as "he who searches our hearts", Romans 8:27. This isn't simply a matter of recording data for God. One day all will have to face God and give an account. In 1 Corinthians 4:5 we read, "He [the Lord] will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts." Also, we read in Hebrews 4:13, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
 
I shudder the thought! As I think over my life, it literally scares the hell out of me to think God has a record of all I have ever thought, felt, said and done! He knows it all, every little bit! Has the realization of that reality troubled me, concerned me? I hang my head!
 
As I read on in the fifteenth chapter of Proverbs, in verse 9, "The Lord detests the way of the wicked but he loves those who pursue righteousness." Also in verse 26 I read, "The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him." God is pleased with the righteous and displeased with the wicked. My life has plenty to place me in the group he is not happy with.
 
The gospel provides a wonderful solution to this horrible dilemma for me. In Psalm 103:8-12 we read, "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
 
How is this possible? The writer of Hebrews observes, "Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, "Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, O God."' First he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them' (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, 'Here I am, I have come to do your will.' He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:5-10.
 
What could be better? As I stand before our heavenly Father, I will have Jesus Christ at my side. I have an advocate as I stand before the great judge! What mercy, kindness and compassion from the one who has paid the penalty for my sin!
 
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com

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